Bowling ball thumb or finger gripping means



BOWLINGBALL THUMB OR FINGER GRIPPING MEANS Filed Feb. 2l, 1948 A MM 20 56.6 y IN1/EN TOR. Heesen/ Haus/wmv Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED 'KSTA'.IES j PATENT OFFICE BOWLING BALL THUMB 0R FINGER GRIPPING MEANS Herbert H. Hausman, Lakewood, Ohio Application February 21, 1948, Serial No. 10,030

ThisY invention relates to improvements in bowling ball thumb or nger gripping means.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of simple and economical means for fitting the thumb and finger grips of a bowling ball to the particular requirements of an individual user.

The measurement of theV span of a bowlers thumb and fingers as it aects the spacing of the thumb and iinger holes of a bowling ball can be determined with relatively little diiiiculty. The optimum arrangementof the pitchy of the holes, particularly of the thumb hole, -to provide a maximum of comfort is not readily determined however. If a bowlers grip on the ball is not perfectly natural and comfortable his bowling score suiers. If the grip is properly suited to his needs his hold on the ball is relatively effortless and he can devote all of his attention and energy to other departments of the game. The only way known to arrive at the proper arrangement of theI pitch angle of a thumb hole for example is to bore the hole at a selected angle and let the bowler try out the ball with the hole thus formed. If the result is not satisfactory the hole is reamed out, plugged up, and a new hole at a different angle is bored. This again may not be suited to the requirements of the user. He may therefore have the plug removed, the hole therefor reamed out and a larger plug inserted and bored at a, third diierent angle. tinued until the grip is satisfactory or until the ball is ruined by the repeated plugging and reaming.

In accordance with the present invention holes are bored in the ball to correspond with the span of the users thumb and nger or fingers. At least one of the holes, generally the thumb hole, is provided with a plug initially, and this plug has has a bore therein which is concentric at the outer end and eccentric at the inner end.` It is inserted in the hole with the axis of the bore in some selected angular position. If the angle does not prove to be correct the plug is adjusted The process is con- 2 Claims. (C1. 273-63) to a diierent angle, the span being unaifectedV due to the fact that the outer end of the bore is concentric with the hole in the ball. This procedure may be repeated as often as may be necessary until the best angle is found. If the user concludes that the degree of pitch of the original plug was not best for his purposes he may have the plug removed and a new one with a diierent pitch inserted, and this new plug may be tried out at different angles if necessary.

In this manner one may experiment with all possible pitches and angles until the right com- 2 bination is attained, and without defacing or otherwise injuring the ball.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan or elevational view of a bowling ball embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view partially in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing removable and replaceable plugs in the thumb hole and one finger hole of the ball.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view partly broken away and partly in section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 showing a removable, replaceable and adjustable plug.

Fig. i is an outer end plan View of the plug.

Fig. 5 is a bottom or inner end plan view of the plug, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a plug having a modified form of bore.

In the drawing I0 indicates a bowling ball having a thumb hole II drilled therein, preferably radially, as indicated by the centerline I2. A iinger hole I3 may be drilled in the ball with its axis I4 spaced from the thumb hole II a distance to conform with the span between the thumb and third nger of the hand of the user, if the user be rghthanded. A third hole I5 for the second finger of the user may be drilled in a similar manner` and spaced from the thumb hole II and from the iinger hole I3 to suit the measurements of the users hand.

In the hole I I I insert a plug I6 which may be formed of aluminum alloy, plastic or other suitable material. In the plug there is a bore I'I of a diameter suiiicient to accommodate the thumb of the user. The outer end of this bore is concentric with the outer end of the plug, but its axis I8 is inclined to axis I2 of the hole by a small angle, so that the inner end of the bore is eccentric to the inner end of the plug. This small angle, which is known as the pitch, is preferably of the order of four degrees, but it may be more or less as circumstances may dictate. The plug may be so inserted in the hole as to dispose the axis I8 in any position around the axis I2. Usually it will be disposed between the axis l2 and the iinger holes, but it may be directed toward the hole I3 or toward the hole I5 or toward some point between those holes, or it may even be directed toward a, point that is laterally beyond one of those holes.

The method of securing the plug in the hole constitutes no part of the present invention. It

. may be accomplished by a press fit or by other suitable means.

Its mounting is only semi-permanent however, that is it must be angularly adjustable and also removable. By the use of a special tool designed for the purpose the plug may be adjusted angularly without removing it from the hole.

the inner end of the plug "may terminate short of the bottom of the hole or the plug may be provided With one or more notches or recesses 2U into which the prongs of the pulling tool may project for this purpose.

The linger holes i3 and l5 may be provided with similar plugs 2l and 22 having inclined bores 23 and :24, the outer ends of which are concentric with the outer ends or" the plugs. indicated in Fig. 2 the axis 25 of bore 23 is inclined to the axis I4 of the finger hole i3 by a A suitable pulling tool, notrshown, is. employed for accomplishing the removal, and

small angle similar to that between the axes l2 and i8. VThe axis 25 will usually be disposed on the Notches Yor recesses 2G similar Yto the notches or recesses 2li and for a similar purpose may be formed at the inner ends of plugsv 2l and 22.

`)In the modified formY of plug illustrated in Fig. 6 the bore l'l is curved lengthwise to better conform with the contour of the users thumb.

The holes il, i3 and l5 may be drilled in the ball at the time it is purchased by the user, or the hole l l may be formed in the ball at the time of manufacture and only the holes i3 and l5 drilledL when the ball is sold.

When the ball is sold the dealer observes the thumb and fingers ci the purchaser and estimates the direction which the pitch line oi each plug' should take. Hethen causes the plugs to be inserted at the selected angles. The pur- 4 Chaser thereupon uses the ball for a time until he can determine Whether the plugs are set to provide the grip best suited to his needs. If he is'not satisfied one or more of the plugs is rotated slightly and thereby reset at a different angle. if an optimum result is not attained by this procedure .after several trials one or more plugs with diierent pitch angles may he substituted for the original plugs. The adjustability aiiorded by the construction is so complete that a per- -fect grip is assured eventually, and the cost beyond the rst cost of the ball is nominal.

Having thusV described my invention,Y I claim:

1. A thumb or iinger grip for a bowling ball, consisting of a plug adapted to be tightly fitted inY any one of a plurality of angular relations Within a hole formed in the ball, said plug having a bore inclined to its longitudinal axis, the outer end oi said bore being concentric with the o uter end of the plug,

2. A thumb or nger grip for a bowling ball as defined in claimjl having atleast one recess opening outwardly yfrom said bore into which a prong on pulling tool may extend.

Y I-I. HTiUSMAN.

REFERENCES `crrlsn The following references of record in the file of thisrrpatent:

UNH'ED STATES PATENTs 

